How do I check if an online shop is fake?

Paste the shop's web address into Scam AI. It checks when the domain was registered, whether Google Safe Browsing flags it, what ScamAdviser and Sitejabber show, and whether a real company stands behind it, then gives a colour-coded verdict.

What are the most common signs of a fake shopping website?

A domain registered in the last few months, prices 50–90% below every other retailer, payment only by bank transfer, crypto or gift card, no real street address or company number, and copied product photos.

I already paid a fake shop. What now?

Contact your bank or card provider immediately and ask for a chargeback. Card payments are usually recoverable; bank transfers and crypto rarely are. Then report the site to your national fraud reporting service.

Are fake shops advertised on social media?

Yes. Many fake stores are pushed through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok ads, often with brand logos and urgent 'closing down' or 'last day' sales. An ad appearing on a big platform is no proof the shop is real.

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Fake Shopping Website Checker

Check any online store before you pay. Paste the address and get a verdict on whether it is a real shop or a fake one built to take your money.

Key Takeaways

Fake shops are usually only weeks or months old — domain age is the strongest single signal.
Prices far below every other retailer are bait, not a bargain.
Bank transfer, crypto or gift-card-only payment is a near-certain scam sign.
Pay by credit card so a chargeback is possible if the goods never arrive.

How fake shopping websites work

Scammers copy the look of a real brand, register a new domain, and promote it with social-media ads offering huge discounts. You either receive nothing, a cheap counterfeit, or your card details are stolen at checkout. Most of these sites disappear within weeks and reappear under a new name.

What Scam AI checks on an online store

Domain registration date and registrar from WHOIS/RDAP.
Google Safe Browsing for known phishing and malware listings.
ScamAdviser and Sitejabber review and trust signals.
Company registers and regulator warning lists for the country you choose.
Web reports of complaints about the store's name.

Quick checks you can do yourself

Look for a real street address and company number, then search them. Reverse-image search a couple of product photos — fake shops lift them from genuine retailers. Read the returns policy: vague wording, overseas returns at your cost, or none at all are warning signs. Search the shop name plus the word "scam".

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Scam AI cross-references regulator blacklists, business registries, WHOIS history and global fraud reports — in real time, free, no signup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if an online shop is fake?: Paste the shop's web address into Scam AI. It checks when the domain was registered, whether Google Safe Browsing flags it, what ScamAdviser and Sitejabber show, and whether a real company stands behind it, then gives a colour-coded verdict.
What are the most common signs of a fake shopping website?: A domain registered in the last few months, prices 50–90% below every other retailer, payment only by bank transfer, crypto or gift card, no real street address or company number, and copied product photos.
I already paid a fake shop. What now?: Contact your bank or card provider immediately and ask for a chargeback. Card payments are usually recoverable; bank transfers and crypto rarely are. Then report the site to your national fraud reporting service.
Are fake shops advertised on social media?: Yes. Many fake stores are pushed through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok ads, often with brand logos and urgent 'closing down' or 'last day' sales. An ad appearing on a big platform is no proof the shop is real.

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